Ammonia-purifier for refrigerating plants.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHNSCHEIDEMAN, OF lVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AMMONIA-PURlFlER FOR REFRIGERATING PLANTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 704,382, dated July 8,1902. Application filed March 14, 1902. Serial No, 98,194. (No model.)

To MZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SCHEIDEMAN, a citizen of the United States,residingat VVashington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Ammonia Purifiers forRefrigerating Plants; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Myinvention relates to compression refrigerating or ice plants in whichammonia is used as the freezing agent, has for its object thepurification of the ammonia in circulation, and consists in certainimprovements which will be fully disclosed in the followingspecification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section, partly in sideelevation, of my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation of theliquid-distributing diaphragm detached, and Fig. 3 a top plan view ofthe same.

Reference being had to the drawings and the numerals thereon, 1indicates an ammonia-receptacle preferably cylindrical in form, and maybe made of a tube with a separable cast-iron bottom 2, secured theretoby screwthreads and soldered at 3; but it is obvious that the bottom maybe formed integral with the body of the receptacle. The receptacle isprovided with an annular flange 4, a groove 5, a packing-gasket 6, and aseparate head 7, having an annular lip 8, which extends into the groove5, and the head is secured to the flange at by bolts 9.

To the inner surface of the head 7 is attached a pipe 10, and to theinner end of said pipe is secured a horizontal liquid-distributingdiaphragm 11, which separates the receptacle 1 into a liquid chamber orcompartment 12 below the diaphragm and a gas chamber .or compartment 13above the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is provided with radial passages l l, which connect withthe pipe 10 and lead to the periphery of the diaphragm to distribute theliquid ammonia in thin streams, and the liquid is discharged into aperipheral groove 15 in the edge of the diaphragm, from which the liquidfalls in a thin annular sheetlike body or in fine streams over the ledge16, and from which body or stream the gas is readily liberated in itsdescent as it is evolved by heat applied to the exterior of the receptacle 1 around the liquid-chamber 12, and that portion of the liquidammonia which has not been converted into gas in its descent issubsequently converted by the heat applied.

The gas rising from the liquid ammonia in chamber 12 passes throughtubes 17 in the diaphragm into chamber 13, the tubes preventing scale orother solid impurities passing with the gas to a very great extent, andthe solid impurities which do pass into the gas-chamber gravitate to thebottom thereof and lie upon the upper surface of the diaphragm, whilethe free solid impurities rising with the gas in chamber 12 adhere tothe lower surface of said diaphragm.

Liquid ammonia or other refrigerant preferably taken from the lowestpoint of the receiver of a refrigerating plant receives its initialvaporization in its passage through an expansion-valve 18, having a sidepassage 19' for connecting with the receiver, and the gas set free bythe expansion-valve and the liquid ammonia travel through passage 20 inthe head 7 ,pipe 10, and are discharged through the diaphragm 11 andfall into chamber 12, from which the gas liberated from the liquidrefrigerant rises through the tubes 17,and the impurities contained inthe refrigerant are collected in chamber 12 and discharged therefromthrough pipe 21, branch 22, and blowoff cook 23, the upper end of pipe21 being covered by a cap 24 and is supported by a brace 25, connectedto one of the bolts 9.

26 is a tank forming a hot-water jacket which surrounds the chamber 12,and pipe 21 is provided with a steam or hot-water supply pipe 27,connecting with vertical pipe 28 for heating water or supplying hotwater to the tank to from 120 to 125 Fahrenheit for reconverting theliquid ammonia into gas,which gas is discharged from chamber 13 throughpipe 29, which connects with a suction-pump, (not shown,) and surpluswater in tank 26 overflows through pipe 30. The receptacle 1 issupported in the tank 26 on legs 31, and the tank 26 is supported onlegs 32, and the water is drawn off from tank 26 through cock 33 andpipe 34.

ICO

The liquid ammonia collected in chamber 12 contains among its impuritiesoil, weak liquor, scale from the pipes, and other contaminating matter,which Weak liquor and oil frequently saponifies in the pipes or coils ofthe system; but by freeing the anhydrous ammonia of its impurities thissaponification is prevented and the plant operated with better resultsunder low pressure and freer from foul gases than under the prevailingsystems of operation.

The impurities which collect in chamber 12 are allowed to accumulate inthe bottom thereof and are blown ofi periodically, as required.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is 1. Thecombination of an expansion-valve for efiecting initial vaporization,and an ammonia-purifier provided with a diaphragm separating thepurifier into a liquid-chamber and a gas =chamber, said diaphragm beingconstructed to distribute the liquid ammonia in the liquid-chamber,means for heating the liquid-chamber, means for conducting gas from theliquid-chamber to the gas-chamber, a discharge-pipe for the gas-chamber,and means for removing the impurities from the liquid-chamber.

2. An ammonia-purifier consisting of a receptacle provided with meansfor attachment to a liquid-ammonia receiver of a refrigerating plant, adiaphragm permanently separating the receptacle into a liquid and a gaschamber and provided with means for distributing the liquid ammonia,means of communication between said chambers, a connection with thegas-chamber leading to a suction-pump, a discharge for impurities fromthe liquid-chamber, and means for warming the liquid-chamber.

3. An ammonia-purifier for refrigerating plants, consisting of areceptacle permanently separated into a liquid-chamberand a gaschamberby a diaphragm having means for distributing liquid ammonia and means ofcommunication between said chambers, a suitable discharge for eachchamber, and means for warming the liquid-chamber.

4. An ammonia-purifier for refrigerating plants, consisting of areceptacle having a liquid-supply, a diaphragm having radial pas sagesand a peripheral discharge for distributing liquid ammonia and separatepassages for gas extending through said diaphragm, a liquid-chamberbelow the diaphragm provided with a discharge for impurities, agaschamber above the diaphragm provided with means of attachment with asuction-pump, and means for warming the liquid-chamber.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN SOHEIDEMAN.

Witnesses:

D. C. REINoHL, W. PARKER REINOHL.

